HBA-LCA H.B. 2285 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2285 By: Woolley Public Education 3/22/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the law does not require an English proficiency test as part of its accountability system for academic performance in public schools. In 1995, the 74th Texas Legislature required the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to develop an assessment system to measure the progress of students of limited English proficiency, who are eligible for exemption from taking the TAAS test under Chapter 39, Education Code. H.B. 2285 requires assessment in Spanish instruments, and requires that students of limited English proficiency who are not yet taking TAAS take an English proficiency test. The test, developed by TEA, will provide a baseline for measuring a student's growth in reading English, and will allow for more effective tracking of the progress of students of limited English proficiency. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 39.023(a), Education Code, by adding Subdivisions (4) and (5), as follows: (4) Requires that all students, except students assessed under Subsection (b) or exempted under Section 39.027 (Exemption), be assessed in Spanish instruments of tests required by this section, as determined by the commissioner of education (commissioner). (5) Requires that all students, except students assessed under Subsection (b) or exempted under Section 39.027 (Exemption), be assessed in reading proficiency with a test designed to measure the progress of limited-English-proficient students. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.